Barberry to start 65,000 sq ft speculative development in Birmingham

Birmingham City Council and Homes England, advised by Savills, sold the 2.9-acre site in Aston, to Barberry at the end of January.

The council has now granted Local Development Order approval to the proposed scheme and the contractors Benniman are gearing up to start construction on site this week, said Barberry development director Jon Robinson.

Barberry, based at Belbroughton near Stourbridge, will speculatively develop a 65,000 sq ft industrial facility at the site, to be known as Barberry 65, located immediately adjacent to J6 of the M6. Construction is due to be completed by the end of September.

The privately-owned development and investment company is also currently nearing completion of a 46,000 sq ft industrial unit – known as Barberry46 - at a site on the A34, between Birmingham city centre and J7 of the M6.

Jon Robinson said: “Birmingham and the West Midlands is in dire need of more high quality industrial space and so we are very pleased to be able to move on to the construction phase at the Advanced Manufacturing Hub.

“The AMH development complements several other schemes that Barberry is delivering within the region. We believe our investment will generate strong demand from both regional, national and global manufacturing, light industrial and research and development businesses - ultimately generating jobs, economic growth and regeneration for the region.”

As part of the AMH, the land benefits from a Local Development Order, which grants planning consent for manufacturing, light industrial and R&D use without the need for a conventional application.

The new property will be the second speculative development at the AMH, following the 94,500 sq ft Apollo building which completed and was let to Salts Healthcare.

HydraForce Hydraulics was the first occupier to commit to the AMH in 2014, with more than 500 staff now based there at its 120,000 sq ft (11,148 sq m) European headquarters. Additionally, global tool manufacturer Guhring has developed a 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) factory at the site, which accommodates R&D and the full manufacturing process.

Charlie Spicer, industrial director at Savills, said: “Barberry’s investment and confidence in the AMH is another major milestone in the progression of the scheme and highlights its growing maturity. Enquiry levels for mid – box units of between 30,000 – 80,000 sq ft has continued to increase and Barberry are set to provide a suitable building to satisfy these occupier requirements”

Karl Tupling, General Manager for the Midlands at Homes England, said: ““We have played a vital role in land assembly, demolition and remediation to bring land forward for commercial development at the successful Advanced Manufacturing Hub. This in turn is reinforcing Aston as a location for high value manufacturing, so it’s great to see Barberry joining the growing list of companies investing in world class facilities at the Advanced Manufacturing Hub to provide skilled manufacturing jobs for local people.”

Both Savills and JLL are the retained property consultants for Barberry. Barberry will be attending MIPIM supporting the Midlands Engine.